Research and Data Insights
Delivering High-Quality Sickle Cell Disease Care with a Prepared Workforce
Key Points:
- Optimal sickle cell disease treatment requires a multidisciplinary team delivering comprehensive care.
- Diverse workforce training across various healthcare disciplines is crucial.
The NHLBI national survey on sickle cell disease care knowledge among healthcare providers highlights the need for ongoing education to address knowledge gaps.
Myth vs. Fact
Pain Management Misconceptions
Myth: Frequent requests for pain medication indicate drug-seeking behavior.
Fact: Patients with sickle cell disease often live with chronic pain and experience acute pain crises that can be more intense and harder to control than other types of pain.
Repeated requests for pain relief are not signs of drug-seeking, but often reflect inadequate pain control, compounded by biologic factors like chronic inflammation, central sensitization, and possible genetic differences in pain processing. Empathetic, individualized care improves outcomes and builds trust.